This ube cream matcha latte is a Filipino dessert–inspired twist on the classic matcha latte, starring the sweet, nutty flavor of ube. The two taste so good together, and once you try it, you’ll make it again and again and again. It’s super easy to make at home, with just 4 ingredients and less than 10 minutes!

Here’s how to make this delicious ube cream matcha latte at home!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s a fun, unique flavor combination with matcha!
• Ube and matcha are such an underrated combination
• It’s super easy to make a cafe-style drink at home
• Comforting and delicious! It’s good hot or cold

What Does Ube Taste Like?

If you’ve never tried ube before, you’re in for a treat. Ube (pronounced oo-beh) is a purple yam from the Philippines with a naturally vibrant violet hue and a flavor that’s often described as a vanilla sweet potato.

It’s subtly sweet and nutty, with hints of vanilla, coconut, and toasted white chocolate. It works really well in creamy things, like cakes, milk, ice cream, condensed milk, etc.

Just like a sweet potato, ube’s sweetness is mellow and creamy, making it perfect for this matcha latte. It adds richness, a creamy flavor, and an amazing texture!

What is a Ube Cream Matcha Latte?

Just like the name says, a ube cream matcha latte is an iced matcha latte with ube cream cold foam on top. It’s basically a dressed-up version of an ube matcha latte! The ube cold foam is super fluffy and not too sweet, and gives the matcha a creamy finish.

Ube has become a star in desserts, pastries, and drinks, not just for its flavor but for its gorgeous purple hue. I’ve seen ube soft serve from Somi Somi, ube cheesecake from Uncle Tetsu’s, and the list goes on. Although it’s been a staple in Southeast Asia (specifically the Philippines), it’s recently gained worldwide fame.

When whipped into a cold foam, it becomes light, airy, and it’s the perfect topper for this matcha!

Do Ube and Matcha Taste Good Together?

Yes, it’s actually one of my favorite combinations!

Matcha leans more savory and umami, which works well with sweet flavors like white chocolate or condensed milk, in a sweet and salty kind of way. Matcha also pairs well with creamy flavors!

The flavor pairing reminds me of Asian-inspired desserts, such as ube cake with matcha cream, halo-halo with matcha ice cream, or a matcha ube affogato. It’s very nostalgic for me and so satisfying.

If you love flavors that are both comforting and unique, give this combination a try!

Ube Cream Matcha Recipe: Ingredients You’ll Need

• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 2 tbsp milk
• ¼ tsp ube extract or ube halaya
• 1 tsp sugar
• cup milk
• 11 cup of ice
• 1½ tsp matcha powder
• ¼ cup water

How to Make an Ube Cream Matcha Latte

1. Whisk Matcha: Sift the matcha powder into a matcha bowl using a fine mesh sieve to avoid clumps. Add water, then whisk vigorously in a zigzag motion for 20–30 seconds until the surface is frothy, think of a delicate layer similar to espresso crema.
2. Make Ube Cream: In a small cup or bowl, combine ube extract, heavy cream, milk, and sugar. Whip the mixture until it’s soft, fluffy, and still pourable. Stop before it turns into whipped cream!
3. Assemble the Drink: Fill a glass with ice, then pour in the milk and your freshly whisked matcha. Gently spoon or pour the ube cream on top. Finish with a sprinkle of ube sugar for a pop of color and flavor.
4. Mix and Enjoy!

Tips for the Perfect Ube Cream Matcha Latte

• Make Layers: Pour the matcha and milk first, then gently spoon or pour the ube cream on top. This creates a beautiful layered effect that looks aesthetic and Instagram-worthy.
• Use Condensed Milk: Many ube sweets are actually sweetened with ocndensed milk which give it a creamy flavor and texture. This is the best hack!!
• Use Coconut Milk: Ube and coconut are a very popular (some say the best) pairing, especially in Asian desserts. The two have some similar flavors to each other, so for a more fragrant drink, try using coconut milk instead!
• Use Extract Sparingly: Extract is extremely concentrated so a little goes a long way. Add just a drop or two to your ube cream to enhance flavor without overpowering the matcha.
• Extra Depth: Add a touch of vanilla, pandan extract, or salt to your ube cream for extra depth and aroma.
• Use a Clear Glass: Serving your latte in a tall, clear glass shows the gorgeous purple and green layers but also makes the experience feel special.
• Garnish with Ube Sugar: Make ube sugar by mixing 1-2 drops of ube with a half cup of sugar. Then, sprinkle some onto the ube cream! It tastes and looks good.

Ube Cold Foam Matcha Variations

• Vegan Option: Swap the heavy cream and milk for coconut cream and your favorite plant-based milk like oat, almond, or soy. Coconut cream adds richness that pairs perfectly with ube’s tropical notes.
• Use Fresh Ube: Instead of ube extract, you can make your own ube jam or halaya by cooking and mashing fresh or frozen ube (purple yam), then mixing it with cream and sugar for a natural, vibrant flavor.
• Ube Replacement: If you don’t have ube available, you can use purple sweet potato and a little bit of vanilla extract. You can also use a ratio of 2:1 of vanilla and coconut extract or flavoring in a pinch.

Can You Use Store-Bought Ube Jam?

Yes! Store-bought ube jam, also called ube halaya, works perfectly in this recipe. Ube halaya is a Filipino dessert made by cooking purple yam with milk, sugar, and butter until it becomes a rich, thick paste. It’s smooth, sweet, and already packed with that signature ube flavor, which makes it a great shortcut.

You can find ube halaya in almost every Filipino supermarket and in most Asian grocery stores. It’s usually sold in jars and ready to use straight from the container. If you can’t find it locally, you can also make your own at home using fresh or frozen ube, milk, sugar, and butter. It’s basically cooking down ube until it turns into a thick, spreadable paste.

The downside is that using it will give your latte a thicker texture, but if you like that, then the world is your oyster!

FAQs

Can I make this drink hot instead of iced?
Yes! Just skip the ice and use warm or hot milk when assembling. For hot versions, I recommend making actual ube whipped cream so that it holds it form longer. Otherwise, it will melt immediately.

What does ube taste like?
Ube has a mildly sweet, nutty, and vanilla-like flavor. It’s often compared to a cross between white chocolate and pistachio, with a hint of earthiness.

Do I need ceremonial grade matcha?
Ceremonial grade is not a good indicator for flavor (it’s a marketing term), but generally, you want to use a matcha that is more bitter and umami so that you can taste it after adding in the sugar, milk, and flavor. This could be culinary or ceremonial grade matcha, but it’s best to use something you’ve tried and liked!

Can I make the ube cream ahead of time?
You can whip it up a few hours in advance and store it in the fridge. Just give it a quick stir before using, and you may have to rewhip it slightly to make it more fluffy. Store it in the fridge when not in use.

Where can I find ube extract?
Ube extract is available at most Asian supermarkets or online. It’s often sold in small bottles and has a vibrant purple color, so a little goes a long way.

Can I use dairy-free alternatives?
Yes! Swap heavy cream for coconut, oat, or vegan cream and regular milk for oat, almond, or soy milk. Just note that the texture and flavor may be slightly different, especially with coconut cream.

Matcha Drinks to Try Next

This ube cream matcha latte is the perfect mix of earthy, nutty, and creamy. Whether you’re using fresh ube, homemade ube cream, or store-bought ube halaya, you’ll end up with a cafe-worthy drink.

If you loved this recipe, here are some matcha drinks to try next:

• Pistachio Cream Matcha Latte – Sweet, nutty, and topped with fluffy pistachio foam.
• Salted Vanilla Matcha Latte – A perfect balance of sweet and salty.
• Oreo Matcha Latte – Made with homemade Oreo milk and a cookies-and-cream twist.
• Ube Pudding Matcha Latte – Silky ube pudding and creamy matcha.
• Sea Salt Cream Matcha Latte – A rich, velvety matcha topped with lightly salted cream.

If you try this recipe, share a review below! ☻